IS STUDYING ABROAD THE RIGHT CHOICE?
Q I recently passed out of the Calcutta International School after clearing my International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. I answered the ICSE from St Xavier's Collegiate School. I want to graduate in economics and have applied to universities in Canada and Australia. Do you think it is the right choice? My parents are investing a lot of money in my education and they wonder if it is the right choice. Please advice.
Prithviraj Banerjee
Whether the choice to study overseas is correct or not usually depends on a family's financial situation. If your family finances comfortably allow an annual expenditure of between Rs 10 and Rs 20 lakh a year (depending upon country and course) then it is definitely worth the experience.
The very first advantage of an international university - especially one in the West - over an Indian one is that it is geared towards helping students develop an independent thought process, unlike many Indian universities. International universities also offer the opportunity to study more applied and new-age subjects, which our universities are opening up to very slowly and gradually. Also, an international university will offer you the chance of integrating work experience of a year within the degree. This is a great benefit that you will not get if you study in India. Apart from the work experience itself, the exposure it will give you to international practices will be invaluable. Exposure to an international classroom is also an advantage.
Finances are even more important in your case because, at the bachelor's level, scholarships are few and far between. So your degree will have to be self-financed. My suggestion for your parents would be that they first understand the duration of the course and the financial requirement per year and then take the plunge.
Shivani Manchanda has master’s degrees in career counselling and child development. She has been
counselling about opportunities in India and abroad since 1991. Mail questions to telegraphyou@gmail.com
